Pressure regulator



A. SWENSEN.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FiLED IAN-2.1919.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. SWENSEN.

PRESSURE REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED 1'AN.2.1919.

1,405,461, Y Y Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. u BB v II jwjiz r. ei W.

' ot the selection, and the drag of the note-- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SWENSEN, OE MORTON PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED SwENsEN, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Morton Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pressure Regulators, o fwhich the following is a full, clear,

concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to pressure-regulators and, more specifically, to pressure-regulators foruse with air-motors for advancing the notesheet of automatic musical instrumcnts.

Difficulty has heretofore been experienced in getting these air-motors to run at the desired speed under changing conditions. One of the factors which have a bearing on the travel of the note-sheet is the suction on the speed of travel of the note-sheet is the changing size of the roll of paper on the take-up spool. The note-sheets are often of considerable length, and this results in quite a variation in the diameter of the roll of paper on the take-up spool during the playing of a selection. The diameter of the relief paper is greater toward the end of the playing sheet has thus an increased leverage which resists the action of the air-motor. Also, and as a third factor. reduction in size of the music-roil as it is unwound in many Clithe usual music roll friction-brake.

It is often the case that the higher air-tensions are used toward. the end of a selection. so that the three factors referred to are often cumulativein their effect toward the end of Specification of Letters Patent.

s, causes effective increase in the drag of.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

Application filed January 2, 1919. Serial No. 269,244.

character, and I have described them at length because I believe they are already recognized as being the most difficult to correct or counteract. Besides these, however,

there are the well-recognized troubles due to tarnished or soiled trackers, gummed bearings and friction-brakes, and probably other disarrangements more or less easy to correct, all of which, nevertheless, assist in producing and in affecting the working load of the motor.

One of the objectsof my invention is'to provide improved means for compensating for the increased load on the motor by controlling the power supplied to the motor. Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is shown Fig. l is a front view of a player-piano embodying my invention, parts being broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

F ig. 4 is a section, on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary view, showing part of the regulator construction;

Fig. 6 is a section, on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section, on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In order to give a general idea of my invention, it is here stated that, in the embodiment disclosed, it shown in connection with a playerpiano having any usual or suitable roll-box, airmotor, and air-pump.

An air-pressureregulator is interposed, in the communication between the pump and the air-motor, to prevent changes in the pumping having an undue effect on the operation of the motor.

In order to compensate for the three varying factors hereinbefore mentioned, viz,

the variable drag on the note-sheet due to variations in suction at the tracker and to variations in the size of the music-roll, and the varying size of the roll on the take-up spool, as well as for other varying factors 'which act to increase the load on the motor,

I provide a bellows which resists the action ot the ressure-regulator and is controlle by air which is regulated by said pressureregulator.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

vwind-chest 18. Thetempo-valve-box 167is provided with any usual or suitable tempovalve 19, which may be manually operated by means ofthe tempo-lever 20 to control the passage of. air through the port 21. In

order to-cut out the regulator :iduring rewinding of the note-sheet, a regulator bypass valve 21 is provided,rwhich controls a port 21". This valve 21 v is opened, when the tempo-valve 19 is moved to the extreme right, by the engagement of the tempo-valve 19 with a projection 21 secured to the valve 21*, the extreme right-hand position of the tempo-valve corresponding to rewind position. When this valve 21 is thus opened, the regulator 13 is rendered ineffective and the air-motor 11. is in direct communication 'with the wind-chest 18 through the port'21 This direct communication between the airmotor and wind-chest causes the air-motorto rewind the note-sheet quickly.

Theregulator 13 comprisesa regulator-V bellows 22,-a regulator-valve 23, and a valvetrolled by the valve 23. V

l The compensating device .14

hinged bellows 27, the interior of which is in communication with regulated air in the tempo'-valve-box-16 through the flexible tube lever 24, to one end of which'the valve 23 is secured and the otheriend of which engages the movable leaf of thebellows '22. This valve-lever and associated parts will be described morein detail hereinafter. A U- shaped spring 25*, having its lower end secured to the fixedleaf of the bellows '22 and its upper end secured to the movable leaf of the bellows 22, exerts a bellows-opening effect on said bellows.

Air enters the bellows 22 from the wi1id- -way 17 through the port 25 and leavesthrough the port 26. The port 26 is concomprises a 28. The connection of thetube 28 with the bellows 27 is through a. nipple 29, inserted in a slanting hole 30 in the fixed leaf 31 of the bellows 27. A leaf-spring 32 has one end thereof firmly secured to the upper movable leaf 33 of the bellows 27, the other end engaging the head of a screw 34 which is threaded into an arm 35 secured to the movable leaf of the regulator-bellows 22. An

arm 36 is secured, to the movable leaf 33 of p r the bellows 27, in positionto be engagedby the movable i end of the leaf-spring 32 to limit the movement of the leaf-spring with respect to the movable leaf 33 of the belto one side of the lever.

lows. The intermediate leaf 37 of the bel lows .27 is provided with an opening 38, in

order that there maybe free communication between the upper and lower chambers of the bellows.

Going back to the description of the regulator-valve-mechanism, and referring par ticularly to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the lever 24 is pivotally or tiltably mounted on a fulcrumblock 39 which has a knife-edge 40 about which the lever. tilts as an axis. about which the lever 24 tilts is thus located In order to hold the lever 24 in proper position with respect to the fulcrum-block 39, a plate 40 is secured to the lower face of the lever 24 by means of screws 41, and this plate 40 is, in turn,

secured to the fulcrum-block 3 9 by means of screws'42, extending through openings 43 in the plate 40 and threaded into the fulcrum-block-39. The diameter of the openings 43 is slightly greaterthan the diameter of the shank of the screws 42 and the screws gagement between the screws .42 and the The axis plate 40 is such as not to interfere with the tilting movement of the lever 24, but is such as to hold the lever 24 in proper position with respect to the fulcrum-block 39 and to prevent the lever 24 from skewing or twisting sideways. The plate 40* is also provided with two holes 44 to permit access to the heads of the screws 45 which secure the fulcrum-block 39 in place.

The valve 23 is secured to the lever 24 by means of a screw'46, extending through an Opening 47 in the valve 23 and threaded into the lever 24. A washer 48 of soft leather is interposed between the head of respect to the port 26. V

In order to make the operation clearer, a

description of whatwould be the operation under varying conditions, without the compensating device 14 will first be givemand then a description of the operation-and effect of operation with the compensating device 14 will be given.

.Considering, first, the operation with the compensating device 14 omitted, I will de-' scrlbe this operation With" the assumption that there are no changes occurring in the air-tension but that there are changes occurringin themotor load due to various causes. such as variationsin theslze of the roll of paper on the take-up spool, variations in the braking effect on themu-sic-spool as the size of the roll of paper on the music-spool changes, differences in friction with notesheets of difl'erent material, and changes in friction between the notesheet and the tracker caused by variations in the number of notes being simultaneously sounded. All of these changes in motor load may take place without any change in the air-ten- .sion. Assuming, then, that the compensating device 14; 1s omitted and that there is no appreciable change of air-tension in the w nd=ehest 1 8, the operation of the parts described is as follows: When the air-pump 12 is operated, air is .drawn through the mo tor 11, conduit 15, valve-box 16, wind-way 17, and regulator 13, into the wind-chest 18. The movable leaf of the. regulator-bellows 2 2 assumes a position i which the bellows closing efiiecfldne to the difference in pressure inside and outside the bellows, is just counterbalanced by the bellows-opening efi t of th 2 The po i wh c the movableleaf assumes is dependent, not only on the bellows-opening efiect of the spring 25, but also upon the throttling effect of r gula or-valve 23 with respect to the port 26. As the bellows 22 collapses, its movable leaf bears against the lever 24 a d moves h velve .23 to u her restrict the flow of air throughthe port 26. This tends to prevent further decrease in the tension of the air in the bellows 22 and to l s n the bellows-closing fie aused by the .difierence in pressure inside and outside of the bellows. When this bellowsclosing efi'ect, due to the tension or difference in pressure, is equal to the bellowsopening effect of the spring 25, the bellows 22 will be in a state of equilibrium. If now, without appreciable change in air-tension in the. wind chest 1,8, the load on the motor 11 is increased, (as bya change in size of the rolls on the take-up spool and music-spool, a change in the number of notes being simultaneously sounded, or by the material of the particular note-sheet causing an increase in the friction between the note-sheet and the tracker,) the first efl'ect of this increased load on the motor will be a slowing up of the motor and a reduction in the amount of air flowing into the motor. This reduction in the amount of air flowing into the motor causes a reduction in the absolutepressu're in the motor, conduit 15, valvebox 16, wind-way 17, a-nd bellows 22. This reduction of absolute pressure in the bellows 22 results in anincrease in the bellows-closing effect and an increase in the difference in pressure inside and outside of the bellows, which causes the bellows, 22 to begin the spring 25" increasing as the bellows collapses.

If change in motor load alone were to be considered (that is, if there were no question of change of air-tension in the wind chest 18 to be considered), the spring 25 might be so designed that its bellows-opening effect would increase very quickly with the collapse of the bellows, so that the airtension in the motor 11 would increase very quickly without much restriction of the port 26. This, however, would impair the action of the regulator 13 as a regulator for pre venting changes of air-tension in the windchest 18 from causing material variations of air-tension in the air-motor, as will be pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

I will now describe the operation and ef fect (still considering the compensating device l4 omitted) when not only the load on the motor is changed, but also the air-tension in the wind-chest 18 is changed, as, for instance, for the purpose of changing the power of playing. Assuming, therefore, that the air-tension in the wind-chest 18 is increased, the air-tension in the bellows 22 will also be increased. The extent to which the tension in the bellows 22 will be thus increased is, however, limited by the action of the valve 23, since, as the tension in the bellows 22 increases and the movable leaf of the bellows 22 moves to a new position, the valve 23 will be moved to still further throttle the port 26 and limit the increase of airtension in the bellows 22. The bellows 22 will, however, collapse until the bellowsclosing eflect, due to the air-tension in the bellows, is again equaled by the bellowsopening effect of the spring 25*, the bellowsopening effect of the spring 25* increasing as the bellows collapses. ['he spring 25 might be so designed that its bellows-opening effect would not increase quickly as the bellows collapses, so that a slight change in tension in the bellows 22 would cause'a considerable restriction of the port 26 and thus prevent variations of tension in the windchest 18 from materially changingthe airtension of the bellows 22.

As indicated above, however, such a design of the spring 225 would not be one which would maintain tempo under a change of load on the motor due to a change of air-tension. In other words. the regulator-spring 25, to take care of changes in motor load, not due to changes in pumping, should be made so that its bellows-resisting action would increase quickly with the collapse of the bellows, and, on the other hand, in order to prevent material change of airtension in the bellows with changes of tension in the wind-chest 18, the regulatorspring 25 should be so designed that its bellows-resisting action would not increase quickly with the collapse of the bellows.

:The two princi 'iles are opposed and the spring could not be designed to take care of both.

The variations of air-tension in the wind chest 18 also cause variations in the load on the-motor. This is because the suction on the note-sheet at the tracker increases and decreases with the tension in the windkchest 18. By. proportioning the regulator-valve area and other regulator parts, the regula tor could bemade to maintain tempo, notv different material) would cause changes in V tempo;

'- t is to provide a construction which will enable tempo to be maintained, notwith- .standlng variatlons of alr-tension 1n the -w1nd-chest 18 and notwithstanding varlations in the motor load, which latter may be I due to variations of air-tension in the windchest 18' and to other causes previously mentioned as well, (such as a change in s ze of the rolls on the spools, etc.,) that my com- 'pensating device is designed.

I will now descrlbe the operation and effect when my compensating device is provided. If, for any cause, whether due to an increase of tension in the wind-chest 1S resultingrin an' increase in suction on the note-sheet at the trackenor due to causes not depending on the air-tension in the vwind-chest, (such as the variation in size of the rolls on the spools, etc.,) the load on, a the motor is increased, the immediateefiect is tolslow up.,the motor/and lessen the amount'of air flowing into the motor. ,Thisresultsjin an increase in air-tension in the bellows 22, and it also results in an increase in alr-tension 1n the bellows '27. .The 1ncrease in air-tension in the bellows 22 tends tofclose that bellows against the action of the spring 25", butthe increase in tension in the bellows 27 tends to open the bellows 22 through the action of the leatspring 32.

Th greater the air-tension. in the bellows 27 the greater will be the pressureie xerted by the spring 32 with a bellows-opening effect on the bellows 22. The position 'sumed by the bellows 22 will be one in which the bellows-closing effect, due to the air-tension in the bellows 22, will be balanced by the bellows-opening efiect of the spring25. plus .the bellows-opening effect otthe spring 32.. As stated above, a regulator 13 may be;

designed which will prevent variation of V tension in the wind-chest 18 from: materially 7 changing vthe air-tension in the bellows 22,

and such'a gu at r m y be u ed with the gulator.

compensating device 1 1. With this combination, ajcha'nge of pressure inthe windchest 18 will havevery little effectfon' the compensating deviceltl 1he compensating 7 device lt do'es, h0i'vever,' re spond to achange otpressure 1n th e tempo-valve-box 16, due

toga slowing down of the moto'r,bec'ause the" bellows of the'compensating device 14': is directly} connected with the tempovalve box 16' throughitlieftubfi 28. 1

ljlro m the construction and operation 'of the eompensating device 14c,"1t follows that itstendency, wheni the motor" load is increased, isto open the 'bellowsff22; This action or" the compensating device uponithe regulatonbellows' 22 being transmitted through the, lea f-s'pring"32, may be considered as a "loadeontrolled booster which acts to assist the ispringflaa; the degree of such assistance depending upon" the strain placed upon spring 32 by theair-t'ension f itninbenowsfifig Thus, the tendency of the compensating device, on an increased motor load, is Ito increase thepowersupp'lied to the motor, to, enable the motor to'mai'nlozld: J 1 V I claim as new andfdeslre tOsecureby LettersjPa'tentof the'United States i 1.. The 'comhinatio'n'with'anair-rnotor and i an air-pressur eregulator for said'air motor,

ofmeans for controll ng sa1da1r-motor, and

means whereby the first saidfi'nea'ns mayobe ,controlledjby: the load on said-Q air-motor and by the airregula ted' by said'regulator.

taint-he desired tempo withltlieincreased' 21 The combination with note-sheet a(l-" vancing mechanism including an aii'pin lotor, and a regulator jfor regulating the pressure of the air vwhichja'ctuatessaidairrmotor', of means for c'ontr'ol'ling' saidfInote-sheetadvancingin echanisrr andrneans whereb the 'firsts'aid 'means may be'controlledby the pressure. otth'e air regulated said r a The"; combinati n ithf"attested-advancing mechanism including an air-motor;

and a regulator'for regulating thefpressure oithe ailwhich a'ctu'ates said air-motoig of means for I controlling 1 said air-motor, and

means'wherebythe first said means'm'ay be Contilledby the "pressure 'of tlie air "regulated" salid regulator cv ancing mechanism including an air-motor, and an air-pressure regulator for regulataction. or said 'air pressure-regiilator, and

the'p ressure of the" airwhich actuates 7 said air-motonof'means for controlllng'the means whereby the first said meansmay be controlled by: thefpressure' of the air regulated; by saidj regulaton.

' 'sg o'rile combination 'wiithnote-s'heet-advancing mechanism including an air-motor, a wlnd chest of variable air-pressure, and a r gulat t ri eg a ing efr e 0 th 1 9 V air which actuates saidair-motor, said regulator comprising a bellows in communica-" tion with said air-motor and" also in communication with-;said wintbchest, a 'valve acting'to resist'the collapsing" movement of said regulator bellows, and means whereby said second bellows is controlled by the pressure of the air regulated by said regulator. 'f Q 6. The combination'witli note sheet-advancing mechanism including an air-motor, a wind-chest of variable air-pressure, said air-motor being in communication with said wind-chest, and a regulator for controlling the pressure of the air which actuates said air-motor, comprising a bellows in communication with said air-motor and also .in communication with said wind-chest, of a second bellows acting on said regulator bellows, and means whereby said second bellows is controlled by the pressure of the air regulated by said regulator.

7. The combination with note-sheet-advancing mechanism comprising an air-motor, a wind-chest of variable air-pressure, said air-motor being in communication with said wind-chest, and a regulator for regulating the pressure of the air which actuates said air-motor, comprising a bellows in communication with said air-motor and also in communication with said wind-chest, of a second bellows, means whereby said second bellows is controlled b the pressure of the air regulated by said regulator, and yielding means actuated by said second bellows for acting on said regulator bellows.

8. The combination with note-sheet-advancing mechanism comprising an air-motor, a wind-chest of Variable air-pressure, said air-motor being in communication with said wind-chest, and a regulator for regulating the pressure of the air which actuates said airanotor, comprising a bellows in communication with said air-motor and also in communication with said wind-chest, of a second bellows, means whereby said second bellows is controlled by the pressure of the air regulated by said regulator, and yielding means actuated by said second bellows for acting on said regulator bellows, comprising a spring secured to the movable part ofsaid second bellows.

9. The combination with 'note-sheet-advancing mechanism comprising an air-motor, a wind-chest of variable air-pressure, said air-motor being in communication with said wind-chest, and a regulator for regulating the pressure of the air which actuates said air-motor, comprising a bellows in communication with said air-motor and also in communication with'said wind-chest, of second bellows,means whereby said second bellows is controlled by the pressure of the air regulated by said regulator, yielding means actuated by said second bellows for acting on said regulator bellows, and a stop tor limiting the movement of said yielding means.

' 10. The combination with a motor, a conduit connected with said motor, and a fluidcontroller ins-aid conduit for controlling said motor, of means controlled by the fluid in said conduit between said fluid-controller and said motor for controlling said motor.

' 11. The combination with a motor, a conduit connected with said motor, and a fluidregulator in said conduit for said motor, of means controlled by the fluid in said conduit between said fluid-regulator and said motor for controlling said motor.

12. The combination with a motor, a conduit connected with said motor, and a fluidregulator in said conduit for said motor, said fluid-regulator comprising means for controlling the fluid and means controlled by the fluid in said conduit, of means controlled by the fluid in said conduit between said fluid-regulator and said motor for controlling said fluid-regulator.

18. The combination with a motor, a fluidregulator for said motor, a conduit connecting said motor with said fluid-regulator, and a fluidcontroller in said conduit, of means controlled by the fluid in said conduit be tween said fluid-controller and said motor for controlling said'fluid-regulator.

14. The combination with an air-motor, a

conduit connected with said air-motor, and

a tempo-valve in said conduit for controlling said air-motor, of means controlled by the pressure in said conduit between said tempovalve and said air-motor for controlling said air-motor.

15. The combination with an air-motor, a conduit connected with said air-motor, and an air-pressure regulator in said conduit for said air-motor, of means controlled by the pressure in said conduit between said regulator and said air-motor for controlling said air-motor.

- between said air-motor and said regulator,

movable wall, the position of which varies according to variations "in the pressure in said conduit between said regulator and said air-motor. V Y

19. The combination with an air-motor, a conduit connected with said air-motor, and a scribed my name tempo-valve in said conduit for said airmotor, of means forcontrollingsaid air-' motor comprising'a chamber having a movable wall, said chamber being directly connected with the portion'of said conduit between said tempo-valve and said air-motor, whereby the position of the movable wall thereof varies according to variations in the pressure in said portion of said conduit.

In witness w'hereof,*-I have hereunto sub- Y t ALFRED sWENsEN. Witnesses: 7

P. L. Meme; i J 3 CLARKE l-Lienn 

